Mom Killed In Lake Co. Crash Identified

LAKE COUNTY, IL -- A 26-year-old Zion woman who died following a collision in Beach Park Friday evening has been identified as Stephanie Rojas, authorities said Monday. Rojas was driving a 2014 Kia Forte south on Green Bay Road near Nemisis Avenue at about 6:04 p.m. when her vehicle was struck by a northbound 2005 Dodge Durango. A preliminary investigation shows the driver of the Dodge, a 20-year-old Park City man, crossed the center line, drove into the southbound lane of traffic and hit the Kia, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Rojas and two passengers in her car, her 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, were taken to area hospitals following the crash. The woman and the younger child were both taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

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Rojas was pronounced dead Sunday, police said Monday. Preliminary autopsy results indicate she died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries sustained in the crash. Toxicology is pending, Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said.

“We have been in close contact with her family and our deepest condolences go out to them. This was certainly an awful tragedy,” Cooper said.

The younger child in Rojas' vehicle was later flown to Advocate Lutheran General in Park Ridge with critical injuries. The 6-year-old boy remained in critical condition as of Monday morning, police said.

The 8-year-old girl was first taken to Vista Medical Center - East in Waukegan with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to the news release. The girl was listed in critical condition as of Monday morning, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the driver of the Dodge was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to the news release.

The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Unit. No charges had been filed and no citations had been issued as of Monday morning, Lake Co. Sheriff's Office Detective Rebecca Loeb told Patch.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK